Adjustable brake latch



0, N. WH lTEFlELD ADJUSTABLE BRAKE LATCH Oct. 2, 1951 Inventor Filed June 27, 1949 Orville N. W/u'lefi /d bwm Attorneys and Patented Oct. 2, 1 951 '1 a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

1 ADJUSTABLE BRAKE LATCH Orville N. Whitefield, Sonora, Tex. Application June 27, 1949, Serial No. 101,605 2 Claims. (01. 74-533) This invention relates to an adjustable brake latch especially adapted for use with well drilling spudder machines.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a brake latch which is adjustable to hold the brake lever of a spudder machine in any desired position so that the correct amount of line will be delivered when desired.

A further object of this invention is to provide a brake latch of the character described which will allow fine adjustment of the brake lever by a simple manipulation of the latch.

And yet another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable brake latch of the character described which is relatively simple in design and construction, easy to assemble to the rig of a well drilling machine, easy to manipulate and very efficient for its intended purpose.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a well drilling machine having a line-delivery reel, a brake therefor and a lever for tightening the brake; an adjustable latch for permitting variable adjustment of the brake comprising a bracket having an elongated slot for receiving the lever, spaced notches in said bracket extending into said slot for retaining the lever at a desired adjusted position, means for slidably attaching said bracket to the machine, and means for adjustably raising and lowering said bracket.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device shown attached to a well drilling spudder machine;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially in the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Specific reference will now be made to the drawings. In the several views, in the accompanying drawings and in the following specification, similar reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout.

Indicated generally at I0 is the frame of a well drilling spudder machine which is provided with the conventional reel l2 upon which is wound a line I4. Embracing the reel are brake bands l6 which may be tensioned or tightened by a lever 2 l8 extending forwardly of the frame of the machine. The adjustable latch of the instant invention is generally indicated at 20, the construction of which will be described hereinafter.

The latch consists of a bracket 22, which is preferably rectangular and which is provided with an elongated, inverted, L-shaped slot 24. As will be seen clearly from Figure 1, the brake lever I8 extends through the slot 24, the brake lever it having a handle 26 at its forward end to allow the operator to move the lever up or down. The slot 24 is of inverted, L-shaped construction to provide a notch 28 for receiving the lever and preventing the latter from falling off the bracket when it is positioned in an inoperative or rest position.

The bracket 22 is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced teeth or notches 30 for selectively receiving a lug 32 depending from the lever [8 so that the proper tension on the reel [2 can be applied to the brake bands 16 to allow for the delivery of a certain amount of line [4. As will be readily understood, the tension on the brake bands IE will be limited by the distance between the teeth 30, and it therefore becomes necessary to provide a means for moving or adjusting the bracket 22 to allow for fractional adjustment between the teeth. The combined means of attaching the bracket to the frame and the means for raising and lowering the attaching means efliciently performs this function as will be seen hereinafter.

Adjacent the top and bottom of the bracket 22 are vertically extending slots 34 (see Figure 3) and extending through the slots are bolts 36 which are threaded at one end for attachment to the frame [0. At their free ends, the bolts 36 are provided with heads 38 having internally threaded vertical bores 40 for receiving an externally threaded elongated screw 42 which is provided at its free ends with heads or closure nuts 44. A pair of L-shaped brackets 46 are secured by means of screws 48 to the latch bracket 22, one leg of each of said brackets being apertured as at 50 to receive the elongated screw 42 and abut the heads 44.

In practical operation, the lever I81 is moved upwardly to engage a selected tooth or notch 30 to apply the proper tension on the reel l2 for the delivery of a certain amount of line M. It this adjustment is not eflicient and the movement of the lever is upwardly to the next tooth 32 would apply too much tension to the reel I2, the elongated screw 42 is rotated so that the bracket 22 r 3 ii'iovs upwardly relative to the frame [0 to the desired adjusted position, as will be readily understood.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It isgto be understood, however, that even though there is'herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the inventionasherein described and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In combination with a lever adaptedtmactuate a brake, an adjustable latch comprising a abracket havinglanzelongatedslotforreceiving the clever; spacedinotchesin ;said bracket extending lintoisaid .slot, for: .retainingthe lever; at: adesired adjustedposition, spaced slots in said bracket and headed lscrews extendingthrough-said slots and radapted tobesecured to a support, and meansfor adjustably raising and lowering said bracket, said means including threaded bores in the heads of said screws, an elongated threaded bolt engaged in said bores, and means securing'said threaded bolt to said bracket.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said last-named means includes apertured brackets receiving the ends of said threaded bolts and fastening pins securing said brackets to said first named bracket.

ORVILLE NJ WHITEFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED "'The'ifollowing references are of record in the ,file of. this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number "Name Date 662,455 Messerer Nov. 27, 1900 1,456,579 Sims May 29, 1923 1,465,808 1 Christmas a Aug; 21, 1923 1,476,585 reBrady :Dec.-,4, l923 1,673,980 Hannaford June;l9, l928 11,684,126 4 Corrnan Sept-11,1928

1,890,937 Erickson Dec.'13,.1932

11,937,740 =Woolson Dec'. 5,1933 

